But as the years pass, Joan comes to understand that ballet isn’t finished with her yet…įrom the prize-winning author of Seating Arrangements comes an exquisitely written, fiercely compelling glimpse into the demanding world of professional ballet and its magnetic hold over two generations. Maria Semple A breathtaking work of art.O, The Oprah Magazine The power of Astonish Me arises out of the pairing of a melodramatic storyline with scrupulously executed range of movement. OTHER WORDS FOR astonish astound startle, shock. A flash of fame and a passionate love affair follow, but Joan knows that, onstage and off, she is destined to remain in the shadows.Īfter her relationship with Arslan sours, Joan decides to quit ballet and make a new life for herself. Independent Maggie never complains about Ridges friendship with Sydney, and its hard to even want Ridge to leave Maggie when she reveals her devastating. Astonish Me is a treasure of small surprises. verb (used with object) to fill with sudden and overpowering surprise or wonder amaze: Her easy humor and keen intellect astonished me. ‘Brims with emotion … an accomplished novel embracing both domestic drama and the competitive quest for perfection’ SUNDAY TIMESĪstonish Me is the irresistible story of Joan, a young American dancer who helps a Soviet ballet star, the great Arslan Rusakov, defect in 1975. ‘A bravura display of high-performance art’ GUARDIAN ‘Brilliantly written the first ballet novel for grown-ups’ THE TIMES In Astonish Me, it is Arslan Rusakov who defects in 1975 with the help of a very young corps de ballet member, Joan Joyce.

The New York Times bestselling author of Great Circle

Astonish me